Colombia climbing- Suesca and La Mojarra- June/July

I'm doing a 6 month South America trip and my first stop is Colombia. I want to start off my trip with lots of climbing so I'm looking for partners for Suesca and La Mojarra for June/July. I do mostly sport climbing, with a little experience following trad. I lead in the 5.10/5.11 range.

Let me know if you want to meet up for some climbing!
michellekinny@gmail.com

Thanks!
Michelle

Michelle,

I am the definitive source on all things Colombian climbing.

Nah but for real I spent 5 months just climbing down there are have some beta if you'd like.

Let me know if you'd like to know anything specific. I can get you in touch with the owners of the hostels in Suesca and La Mo. Additionally if you have any trouble finding partners I know the communities in both places pretty well.

Are you flying into Bogota, Cartagena, or elsewhere?

I'm intrigued, could maybe get down there..my buddy wants me to meet him in Santiago in mid July so I could potentially stop over. Was all over Colombia last year with my ex for a few weeks, so I'm somewhat familiar with the territory, though my Spanish sucks at the moment.

Hey Josh! Thanks so much for your help! I'm flying into Bogota. Do you recommend El vivac Hostel in Suesca?
elvivachostal.com/servicios…

Michelle,

El vivac (bivy) is owned by very friendly climbers but personally I would recommend staying in a closer hostel.

El vivac is across the river and closer to the town of Suesca.

The walk will take about 20 minutes to get to the climbing and you'll save about 5,000. I believe it costs 20,000 compared to 25,000 for the closer hostels.

I would recommend staying at El Descanso or the 'Adventura' hostels. Both are 25,000/ night and will put you at a 4 minute walk from climbing.

El Descanso is a bit nicer/ cleaner where as the 'adventura' is a bit more climber oriented and has internet.

I was able to rent an incredible house in Suesca for $160 (300,000) a month.

Oh and when you go to La Mojarra take time to catch a bigger bus with a bathroom.

You'll understand why. It's an incredible drive.

Thanks so much Josh!! That's really helpful! Is this the Adventura place you're referring to: elnomadahostel.com/

Do you think I need to book ahead of time at the 'Adventura' hostel? Or is it a place were I can just show up the day of? Maybe I would go on a weekday when they would be less busy...

Hi Michelle. I might be around for Mojarra in July, I'm meeting my friend in Peru to go to Hatun Machay for a couple of weeks in the middle of June for climbing there before he heads back home and I head to Equador and then Colombia. When exactly do you start your trip? Would love to get chance to climb there

Hey Laurence! That would be awesome to climb! I'm starting my trip in 6 days! I plan on being in La Mojarra in late June/early July. Let's climb!

Hi Michelle, sounds good, I think I should be able to get to Mojarra in the first week of July, are you planning on heading to Suesca before Mojarra? Any idea for about how long you will stay there?

One of my friends is a pilot who used to have 30 hour layovers in Columbia and hit up Suesca all the time, he even left a full trad rack down there with a lady friend to maximize time out on the rock.

He's spoken very highly of the climbing there, though to be fair, he was living in Houston at the time. So any rock was awesome to him. I'll tell him to get on the thread and post up any good beta he has.

Laurence,

I'm planning on being in Suesca until about the third week of June and then to La Mojarra last week of June/first week or two of July.

Hi Michelle

I will be in Huaraz and Hatun Machay for the next two or three weeks. When I leave Huaraz I will let you know if I can make it to La Mojarra for that time! Might well see you there though.

Laurence

Hi Michelle,
Not sure if you already came to La Mojarra, but if you have not, get in touch I live in Piedecuesta (closest town), and la Mojarra is my weekend crag.
If you need any info, beta or contacts let me know, I guess I can say I am a local here.
Good travels and good climbing,
Cheers,
-G

Hi Giovanni, I will be at La Mojarra this weekend... as early as tomorrow. Right now I'm planning to be there sometime tomorrow, just waiting to hear back from Refugio de Roca. I am going to be teaching yoga for trade, and unfortunately it's a last minute thing so I don't have my gear. Is there a cheap place nearby to buys shoes if I need to? Also do you know of good ways to get there from San Gil? That's where I am now. Totally winging it.

I'll chime in real quick to get you going. I don't know of any place to buy shoes in Colombia outside of Bogota/Suesca.

To get to Piedecuesta just go to the bus station in San Gil and buy a ticket towards that way.

Every time I've been that way I've stopped in Los Curos and taken a bus up to Los Santos from there.